Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Born:
January 30, 1882
Died:
April 12, 1945
Party: Democrat
1st Term: 1933-1937
Vice President: John N. Garner
2nd Term: 1937-1941
Vice President: John N. Garner
3rd Term: 1941-1945
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
4th Term: 1945-1949 (d. 1945)
Vice President: Harry S. Truman

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the thirty-second president of the United States. He was a great president because genuinely cared for the American population. He deserves the rating of an A for his presidency. Roosevelt was a great president because he led the United States out of the Great Depression and had strong leadership during World War II. He also put the “Good Neighbor Policy” into effect and recognized the Soviet Union as an independent nation.
Roosevelt wanted to respond to the Great Depression, allow the United States to gain economic recovery, and wanted to keep the United States out of the war in Europe. During the Great Depression, Roosevelt’s main goal was to relieve the United States of the depression. Roosevelt attempted to solve the Great Depression through the New Deal Program, “an unprecedented program of direct federal relief and economic regulation that established the modern welfare state" (The). The New Deal included the Emergency Banking Relief Act, Unemployment Relief Act, Federal Emergency Relief Act, Agricultural Adjustment Act, Home Owners; Refinancing Act, Glass-Steagall Act, Gold Reserve Act. National Housing Act, Frazier-Lemke Act, Wagner Act, Social Security Act, Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, and the Second Agricultural Adjustment Act. The New Deal also established the Conservation Corps, Securities and Exchange Commission, Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Home Owners' Loan Corporation, Civil Works Administration, Reciprocal Trade Agreements, Federal Housing Administration, Resettlement Administration, Works Progress Administration, and Fair Labor Standards. New Deal programs helped to relieve some of the depression by offering jobs, allowing the American people to trust banks once again, helping farmers, lowering overproduction (the cause of the depression), making a stable currency, offering mortgages to homeowners and farmers, building public works in communities (jobs for Americans), and offering federal assistance to the elderly.
All of these acts, plans, and organizations somewhat helped the economy, but it was not until World War II that the depression was fixed. Because Roosevelt changed his philosophy of neutrality and led the United States to war (World War II), the economy was saved and then recovered. Roosevelt brought the United States out of the depression by stimulating the economy (which was due to World War II.) The economy was stimulated by the production of war materials and weapons. The production of war materials and weapons not only boosted the economy, but it offered many Americans jobs. For foreign policy, Roosevelt established the “Good Neighbor Policy” in Latin America and began withdrawing troops. Some think to use Latin American countries as allies. He also recognized the Soviet Union as an independent nation. During World War II, Roosevelt’s main goals were to win the war (against Germany, Japan, and Italy). America disagreed with the dictators of Germany and Italy and the prime minister of Japan.

Roosevelt's best decisions were establishing the New Deal and leading the United States in World War II. The most positive action of Roosevelt’s presidency was leading the United States in World War II. Through his strong leadership, the United States came out victorious. World War II stimulated the United States’ economy, and brought the United States out of the depression. Roosevelt insisted Germany surrender to avoid armed confrontation. When Germany refused, he “plotted the invasion of Normandy.” Roosevelt led the United States’ into war and met with the Allies, working with them to win the war. Roosevelt also played a part in the military strategy for the war (Franklin).
Roosevelt's most negative action was proposing the Court Packing Plan. Roosevelt had hoped that through this plan that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional, he would be able to appoint a new Supreme Court justice. Roosevelt's main motive in the Court Packing Plan was to "pack" the court with Supreme Court justices that would support Roosevelt's agenda. His agenda was to get his New Deal program passed (political and economic reforms.)
Roosevelt had a good relationship with Congress. Although he made more vetoes than any other president in the history of the United States, he served the most terms than any other president in history. One mistake Roosevelt made was proposing that another Supreme Court justice should be added so he could further his agenda. But, since the United States was in a depression and the majority of Congress was Democratic (Roosevelt was a Democrat), Congress passed many bills, as well as Roosevelt’s relief and reform programs (The Hundred Days Congress). Congress passed Roosevelt’s ideas of a New Deal program. Because times were bad in America, Republicans and Democrats worked together to solve the depression.
Quite a few of the New Deal programs are in place today, such as the Social Security Act, Wagner Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Securities Act, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Securities and Exchange Act. Since these acts are still around, it shows how much Roosevelt impacted future administrations.
Overall, Roosevelt helped the United States during its hard times. Roosevelt helped the United States overcome the depression by entering World War II. His New Deal program created many jobs and helped put an end to the overproduction of crops. This stimulated the American economy. Roosevelt also established good relations with Latin American countries. Roosevelt accomplished his goals and deserves an A for his leadership and New Deal program.
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